Today is hottest of year, but Met warns of Sunday snow and a tropical summer ahead

After the clocks went forward and the sun came out, it felt like spring had finally arrived.

But yesterday forecasters poured very cold water on our hopes - in the form of snow.

The wintry conditions are expected to return in force this weekend, just in time for the school holidays that will start in many local authorities.

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rother and sister Diana and Mark Reed, aged 4 and 7, smell the flowers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Richmond, today

Mr Bolton said: ¿Saturday should be fine, with temperatures of 10-11C (50-52F), but in the evening temperatures will plummet as rain and sleet showers arrive. There is a good chance of snow.¿

Forecasters say the cold snap could continue into next week, with a further risk of snow showers on Tuesday morning.

Britain is also heading for a "typical summer" of sunshine and showers but there is unlikely to be a repeat of last year's deluge, the Met Office said yesterday.

According to the latest long-range forecast, June to August is likely to be warmer and wetter than average.

Although forecasters are unable to give detailed predictions more than a few days in advance, they say the risk of the kind of torrential rain that led to last summer's floods "is assessed as very low at this stage".

Dr Brian Golding, Met Office head of forecasting, said it would be a return to the traditional British summer of showers and fine days.

"We expect the temperature to be above average," he went on.

"In terms of rainfall, we are looking at an indication of above average to average.

"We think it's likely to be a case of a few fine days, and then there's a band of rain, perhaps some thunderstorms and then it warms up again."

Warning: Forecasters say more snow is on the way

His colleague, Rob Varley, added: "We are predicting more westerly winds so even if average temperatures are higher, it may not feel like a hot summer."

This time last year the Met Office said there was a "high probability" that mean temperatures for summer 2007 would exceed the 1971-2000 long term average of 14.1C (57F).

In the event, temperatures were around average.

The Met Office also forecast average or above average rain. The summer turned out to be the wettest since national records began in 1914.

Dr Golding said: "Our predictions for last autumn, winter and spring have all given accurate advice, giving more confidence in our latest summer forecast."

More imminently, forecasters have warned us not to get used to the recent good weather as snow is on the way this weekend.

Less than a fortnight after the coldest Easter for 44 years, experts said mild temperatures enjoyed by large parts of the country this week will be replaced by wintry conditions again.

Sleet and hail are predicted for Sunday, with no part of the country guaranteed to miss out.

Temperatures are expected to remain low into next week. Gardeners were warned there may even be a frost.

The first maps to show areas of Britain most at risk from surface water flash floods are being drawn up by the Environment Agency.

Last summer nearly 40,000 homes, many in Hull and Sheffield, were deluged after drains and sewers failed to cope with sudden downpours. Unlike residents living near rising rivers, most victims had no warning.

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Today is hottest of year, but Met warns of Sunday snow and a tropical summer ahead